Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1887-05-05
ANSWERING lNGEhSOLL.
General George Sheridan Delivers Lee
ure in WashinRton

ure in Washington.
WAsHIGToN, D. c., April IL
General George Sheridan delivered
his lecture, "a Modern Pagan, /" this
evening at the new national theater
before large audience. He was in
troduced by the Hon. John Sherman,
and among the many prominent per-
sons present were Senator Beck, ex-
Congressman Mitchell, number OF
members of the bar and many
ladies.
The lecture abounded in passages
Of logical eloquence and exquisite
bits of pathos and humor, and was
received with hearty demonstrations
of approval.
General Sheridan said it was not
his purpose to utter defense of the
Christian religion it was to show the
evil effects of the course adopted by
Col. Ingersoll, whom he said he
knew to be personally one of the
ablest men, a good son, faithful
husband an affectionate father and
a grand patriot; but when he reach
ed the. subject of religion the mantle
of his genial personality fell upon
his shoulders; his judgment was
warjed and he became at once the
loudest of boasters. No man ever
assailed the Christian religion with
more eloquence. less skill, worse
logic, so much conceit and so little
learning.
The lecturer then charged Inger-
soil with declining to meet men
competent to discuss the question
with him. In fact. he had never
met but one really able mantle
late Judge Jere Black, and then the
instant he felt the steel, ran from the
field. In discussing the questions Of
Christianity, IngersolI created spurl-
Gus issues. He utterly ignored the
work of Christianity. He neither
comprehended nor appreciated the
the excellence and magnitude of the
achievement of the system he SO
flippaptly assalled, relative 10 God,
his ways and works. Colonel Lager
soil manifested curiosity that was
as senseless as it was Idle, imperti-
nent and disrespectful. He said he
did not understand God and there
fore he did not believe there was
one. He could not understand cleo
trlclty, but it would go on electrify-
ing. He could not understand the
affinity of soul for soul; still the
stars would look down on fair maid
ems, listening to the eager voice Of
youth as it whispered the old, old
story that had brIghened allthe ages
and millions of homes in this great
land tonight were joyous with the
songs of those whose souls were held
close together by the same invisible
cords that, since the birth of time.
lad been woven in the loom of love.
Ingersoll, the speaker continued,
should consider the effects of his at
tacks on religion before giving them
publicly He had no right to pa
rade his vagrant fancies before the
community as a code Of morals. Es-
timating his philosophy by the spirit
that characterized his utterances, it
was both shallow and unkind. He
was mad clear through, Mad to the
soles of his in6del feet. He had no
right to destroy mud hut unless he
could give its occupant better r
equally good place to live; nc right
to strike the cup Of water from th.
thirsty man IN the desert unless he
could give purer. Nh. Ingersoll was
moral and intellectual anarchist
HIS peroration was an cutburst Of
the yelling eloquence describing Che
the anaTchistic tendencies of infidel-
ity.
General Sheridan portrayed Colo
mel Ingersoll as the assistant of the
subIimest teachings of philosophy,
of poetry and of science, of ancient
and modern times, without offering
substitute or better thing. In.
gersoH, he said, was employing his
genius in cxtingulshlng the trutst
source of human happiness and sub
vertlng the very basis of civilization
itself.